SIIA Applauds Senate Resolution Against International Internet Regulation

For Immediate Release
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SIIA Applauds Senate Resolution Against International Internet Regulation
President Ken Wasch Says Proposals within the ITU Could Undermine Internet Freedom & Global Business

Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2012) - Ken Wasch, president of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, issued the following statement in response to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee mark-up of a bipartisan Senate Resolution (S. Con. Res. 50) urging the Obama administration to oppose a United Nations proposal that would bring the Internet under unnecessary international governmental control.

"Giving the U.N. unprecedented power over Internet governance will open the door for repressive regimes to undermine today's reality of Internet freedom. It's no surprise that China and Russia, two countries that have taken extreme steps to tighten governmental control over the Internet, are among those leading the charge to bring the Internet under unnecessary international governmental control. Granting this proposal will hurt individuals and the global economy by granting undue power to governments that seek to undermine Internet freedom and international trade.

"We applaud Sen. Marco Rubio and this bipartisan group of senators for vocalizing these concerns. They join esteemed colleagues in the House and industry groups across the country in urging Administration officials to continue working vigorously in opposition to efforts to enact harmful Internet governance reforms at the World Conference on International Telecommunications this December.

"We must put the full weight of the United States behind efforts to maintain a global Internet free from unnecessary international governmental control. It is imperative to preserve the successful multi-stakeholder model that governs the Internet today - not only to maintain Internet freedom for the United States but for countries around the world."

About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies. The SIIA Software Division provides a forum for companies developing the applications, services, infrastructure and tools that are driving the software and services industry forward. For further information, visit www.siia.net